Foresight

In ways that may range from unsurprising to unexpected, coastal evolution is impending across the social, economic and environmental spectrum. Strategic foresight is a tool for broadening awareness about what is currently out of mind yet could be just over the horizon. It does not predict the future: it guides managers to anticipate a wider range of possible future conditions to assist with preparation and decision making. The strategic foresight process supports goals of assessing vulnerabilities; developing and implementing adaptation strategies; and engaging and educating stakeholders.

Although impacts will be diverse, they can have numerous intersections with Clean Water Act purposes. Being prepared involves envisioning developments related to: point and nonpoint sources of pollution; healthy fish, plants, and wildlife; public uses; and restoring and protecting habitat. A strategic foresight analysis of coasts at mid-century can begin conversations about emerging risks and opportunities in several understudied sectors.